Joy to the World

Christmas is more than a state of mind.  It's more than being nice to someone else.  Christmas is about someone who came to earth not just to be nice or have us be nice.  Christmas is not about being happy all the time or even for a time.  It's about joy which is so much more than being nice or being happy.

Joy is rooted in our being, in our soul, in our being created in the image of God.  We experience joy when we are connected to God through His Son Jesus.  Nothing can take our joy away.  We seem to yield it to others sometimes or experience the feeling of losing it when circumstances hit us that are beyond our control.  But the joy that we find in Jesus is ours as we stay connected to God, even when at times we seem driven to disconnect ourselves.

I want to be nice to people.  I want to be happy.  But it's not what Christmas is all about.  It is not about me, my niceness, or my happiness.  Christmas is about joy to the world that Jesus brought.  I have that joy.  I want to share that joy.  When I mess up and don't seem very Christlike I ask you to forgive me and don't give up on God because of my stupidity or lack of kindness or love.  It's not God's fault that I mess up.  God does His best and sent His best.

This Christmas move beyond the "nice" and being "happy."  Experience the joy of Christmas and then let God lead you to serve others.  Don't let the serving get in the way, though, of keeping that "Joy Connection" with God.

Joy to the World.  Joy to you my friends.